If the scar tissue does not eventually heal, you may consider asking your surgeon to inject a small dose of corticosteroids down the line. It can weaken the connective tissue inside the clot. However, he will have to make a decision after seeing the tissue first hand, because some scar tissue is not amenable to steroid treatment, and some people with poor healing may actually have the wound reopen (and I'm sure you're tired of surgery by now). Best of luck.
Hi curious...
Well, I'm not entirely sure what that would do for scar tissue, but the actual clot itself was removed during my second operation. So technically my hematoma was corrected soon after it happened; the resultant scar tissue, however, has not yet gone away. I've heard that massaging deep scar tissue, besides introducing blood to the areas in question, loosens the tissue fibres and speeds up the healing process. Could you explain what exactly corticosteroids would do, and under what circumstances it would be advisable to take them?
Also, in response to buddy's question, I'll give a brief account of how my scar tissue/nipples have healed thus far. For the first week I kept them under bandages, and I can only assume they were quite bruised and swollen. For the following two weeks I wore a tenser bandage, and watched gingerly as the incisions actually healed. It was around this time that my right nipple, the one that previously had the blood clot, began to develop the hard scar tissue. The nipple itself became quite tough and, to be honest, more noticeable than pre-op owing to it being a bit harder and pointier. The only saving grace was the tenser bandage, which enabled me to walk around in a t-shirt without being overly self-conscious.
I initially believed that the tenser bandage was having a positive effect on the deep scar tissue, because for a short while after wearing it, let's say overnight, my nipples - though not flat - certainly felt less hard than before wearing the bandage. Now I am of the opinion that the scar tissue was merely being pushed into my chest muscles, and eventually "resurfaced". So I have taken to massaging the area, and though the changes are so slight and occur over weeks rather than days, I think I am beginning to notice a small improvement in both the quantity of scar tissue, as well as the general hardness of my nipple.
Overall, I have to say I'm quite disappointed with the effect the surgery has had. At the time of writing this, there is no noticeable improvement over my nipples pre-op. They are still rounded, though admittedly that is probably from swelling fluid and not glandular tissue. It has only been two months, and I am more than willing to wait another 10 to see real improvement (and it's not exactly like I have a choice:)). My advice to you: be patient and keep massaging your nipples. Don't go easy on them. If your incisions have healed, and you can tolerate the pain, then dig your thumbs into the scar tissue and keep at it. It will start to go down. I'll let you know how mine progresses.
However, what has really become apparent to me through all this is how psychologically affected I am by my nipples. I never wore anything like a tenser bandage over my chest before the operation, and now I find myself occasionally wearing one when I go out to parties or social gatherings, just because it makes me feel immeasurably more comfortable. Ordinarily, I walk with my arms crossed and my back hunched over, and frankly I'm just so tired of feeling embarassed in my own skin. I was really hoping this surgery would be the answer, and despite people's assurances, I can't help but have my doubts. Oh well, I waited 10 years to get the operation done, I can wait another 10 months for a normal chest!